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Milestone events at Aer Lingus 1936 - 2012

1936

Aer Lingus took delivery of its first aircraft, registered EI-ABI, on 26 May 1936 and named it "Iolar" (Eagle). This was Aer Lingus' first and only aircraft and it was based at Baldonnel Aerodrome, the Irish Army Air Corps base outside Dublin. At 0900 hours on 27 May 1936, the aircraft took off from on Aer Lingus' first flight from Baldonnel to Bristol.

1938

Aer Lingus acquired a de Havilland D.H.89A Dragon Rapide in February 1938 to replace EI-ABI.

1940

Aer Lingus acquired a de Havilland D.H.89A Dragon Rapide in February 1938 to replace EI-ABI.

1946

Paris added to the network, becoming the first Continental European city to be served by Aer Lingus.

1954

First Viscount 700s delivered in March. Aer Lingus was the third airline to introduce the Viscount, the world's first turboprop airliner.

1957

Major expansion of Continental European network, mostly using new rights via Manchester.

1958

The DC-3 (was also widely known by its RAF name, the Dakota) were replaced by new Fokker F27 Friendship twin turboprops.

Aerlinte Eireann, originally formed in the 1940s, re-establishes and on 28 April the first transatlantic service leaves Dublin and Shannon for New York.

The shamrock replaces the Irish flag on the tail of Aerlinte Eireann aircraft and a year later is extended to the European fleet.

1960

Aer Lingus enters the jet age, with Boeing 720s covering the routes from Dublin and Shannon to New York and Boston.

1965

BAC One-Eleven jets introduced on Continental European network.

1966

Montreal and Chicago added to the transatlantic network in April.

Aer Lingus replaces Fokker F27 for Vickers Viscount 800s.

1969

Boeing 737-200 introduced into service. The aircraft became the mainstay of our short-haul fleet for many years.

1971

First Aer Lingus Boeing 747 is delivered.

1974

Aer Lingus unveils its revamped livery featuring two new green colours and a blue. A new white shamrock appears on the fin, provoking outrage among purists!

1986

Aer Lingus celebrates its 50th anniversary.

1989

The first of a fleet of five Boeing 737-400s, the largest 737 to date with capacity for 156 passengers, enters service.

1993

The Cahill plan was introduced. This restructuring programme was launched to address the commercial challenges of the airline, at that time.

1994

Airbus A330 introduced into service on transatlantic routes.

1995

On 2 October the Aer Lingus Boeing 747 takes flight for the last time after 25 years of service. By that time, over eight million people had travelled across the Atlantic in Aer Lingus 'Jumbo Jets'.

Introduction of BAe146 into fleet in April to replace turboprops on UK routes.

1996

New corporate identity introduced in February.

Chicago service reintroduced after being suspended previously.

1997

Newark service inaugurated in May.

1998

Daily Cork-Amsterdam and Cork-Paris services started in June using BAe146s.

Introduction of Airbus A321 into service in May, used initially on busy Dublin-Heathrow route.

TEAM Aer Lingus sold in December.

1999

Launch of Los Angeles service in May using newly-delivered long-range Airbus A330-200.

2000

Introduction of first Airbus A320 into service in June on busier Continental routes.

2001

2005

Last Boeing 737-500s withdrawn from service in October, making Aer Lingus an all-Airbus airline.

2006

Aer Lingus celebrates its 70th Anniversary.

Aer Lingus is floated on the Irish and London Stock Exchanges.

Aer Lingus launches Dubai, its first long haul destination outside of North America.

2007

Aer Lingus carries in excess of 1 million transatlantic passengers.

Open skies agreement provides Aer Lingus with new opportunities to grow its long haul network. Within an hour of the announcement, three new routes to the US are introduced including Washington DC, San Francisco and Orlando.

27th May marks the airline’s 75th anniversary – the same date in 1936 on which Aer Lingus launched its first ever flight between Baldonnel and Bristol, with five passengers, on a six-seater De Havilland 84 Dragon named Iolar, - meaning 'eagle' in Irish.